Abstract

Background

Cervical cancer is one of the most frequent neoplasms in women.Diagnosis and treatment engage a lot of patients' emotion and therefore the social support becomes interesting subject of assessment for the clinical and psychological status of cervical cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to compare perceived and obtained social support in cervical cancer survivors after radical radio-chemotherapy and healthy women.

Material and methods

94 women were included to the study between November 2009 and May 2010: 47 cervical cancer patients (27-69 years, median 55 years) minimum 3 months (median 37 months) after radical radio-chemotherapy and 47 healthy women (24-64 years, median 52 years). Subjects filled out a questionnaire that included Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS) which measures 10 different types of support, and additional demographic and medical questionnaires. In the statistical analysis chi2 test, t-Student test and linear regression were used. The significance level was p < 0.05.

Results

Almost all types of social support were significantly higher assessed by women after cervical cancer treatment than healthy ones. While the need for support and seeking support was almost at the same level in both groups, women with cancer treatment currently receive more support than healthy women (p < 0.05). Significantly (p < 0.05) higher perceived emotional support, total currently received support and currently received instrumental support were found in cancer patients living in the village, city up to 50 thousand, and city between 50 and 200 thousand inhabitants, respectively. In addition, we uncovered predictors of better support, like: FIGO stage was predictor to perceived instrumental support and currently received emotional support, but age was a predictor of most intensive need of seeking for support (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Although the need for social support was the same in both groups, women after cancer treatment received it more, and evaluate it higher. FIGO stage and age were the most important predictors of perceived instrumental support, current emotional support and seeking form support.